Re: Defining derivatives
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg87884] Re: Defining derivatives
- From: David Bailey <dave at Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
- Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:35:35 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <fu9vnl$igu$1@smc.vnet.net>
dh wrote: > Hello All, > > does anybody know how to define symbolic derivatives. E.g.: > > f[x_]:=f1[x]; > > f'[x_]:=f2[x]; > > this does not work because f on the lefthand side is evaluated. To > > prevent this (do not forget to remove f before redefining it): > > f[x_]:=f1[x]; > > HoldPattern[f'[x_]]:=f2[x]; > > this gives no message, but f'[x] returns f1[x] instead of f2[x]. > > The same thinhg happens when you change the sequence of definitions: > > f'[x_]:=f2[x]; > > f[x_]:=f1[x]; > > Further, where is the information about derivatives stored? > > thank's a lot, Daniel > > > Daniel, Surely if f[x] has a definition, it is not unreasonable that this definition is used prior to differentiation. Without the definition all works well: (f^\[Prime])[x_]:=f2[x]; D[f[2x],x] 2 f2[2 x] BTW, if you only want the definition to be used for numerical cases, you could always use: f[x_?NumericQ]:=f1[x] David Bailey http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk